I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Justice Lonesome has enjoyed a life of bounty.

Even so, sheÔÇÖs inherited the curse of the Lonesome. A poetÔÇÖs soul. Which means sheÔÇÖs still searching for something. Searching for peace. Searching for the lessÔÇªthatÔÇÖs more.

And when the foundation of her life is pulled out from under her, grieving, she goes to the mountains to find her oasis. She hits Carnal, Colorado and decides to stay.

Deke Hightower lost everything at the age of two. He lost it again at fifteen. His life has not been about bounty. ItÔÇÖs been about learning to live with less, because thereÔÇÖs no way to get more.

DekeÔÇÖs also watched all his friends go down to the women who gave them what they needed. He wants that for himself. But he knows that search isnÔÇÖt going to be easy because heÔÇÖs a rider. His home is the road. ThatÔÇÖs the only place he can breathe. And the woman who takes her place at his side has to do it sitting on the back of his bike.

When Deke meets Justice, he knows sheÔÇÖs not that woman. SheÔÇÖs cute. SheÔÇÖs sweet. And sheÔÇÖs into him, but sheÔÇÖs got it all and Deke knows he wonÔÇÖt fit into that. So he holds her at armÔÇÖs length. Establishes boundaries. And Justice will take it because she wants Deke any way heÔÇÖll let her have him.

But when Justice finds herself a pawn in a dangerous game, Deke
makes a decision.

Sweet. Sexy. StunningÔÇöBounty is one of the best books I have read by Kristen Ashley up to date. ItÔÇÖs mesmerizing in its beauty and honesty. Full of the usual alpha hero and sweet and sassy heroine we are used to, however, this book gave me so much more than that. The journey of two wandering, restless souls finding their perfect counterpartÔÇösomething not many of us are granted in a lifetime.

ÔÇ£I found it because losing him meant I needed to find my peace in a world without him in it. But I got more than that. I got my less thatÔÇÖs more. I found my place. I found my oasis. I found my home. I found where IÔÇÖd be safe and looked after. I found peace. And heÔÇÖll never know.ÔÇØ ~ Justice

Justice LonesomeÔÇöwhose name I adoreÔÇöis not your usual woman. Famous, talented, rich. Yet, she is seeking for something, something all the money in the world is not able to help her find. Justice, someone who has it all, everything we humans seem to stride for, wants less. One night, years ago, in a biker bar in the middle-of-nowhere Wyoming, she finds itÔÇöDeke. One conversation, one fleeting touch and Justice knew down to her bones she found itÔÇöthe one, the only man for herÔÇöonly to lose him the next day.

ÔÇ£Seeing that, suddenly, he was the only man there. The only man at the bar. The only man in the universe. The only man breathing. The only man for me.ÔÇØ ~Justice

When I think about Deke HightowerÔÇöwho is now one of my favorite KA heroes ever (right after my man Callum)ÔÇöthe one sentence coming to mind is still waters run deep, the gentle giant. Not for the first time Kristen Ashely makes us wait for the hero to fallÔÇöand enjoy the fallÔÇöwhile meanwhile torturing us by having the hero act like an asshole. Deke doesnÔÇÖt want to fall, at all, especially for someone like Justice. But unlike so many other heroes, heÔÇÖs not an asshole about it. He is actually respectful and sweet to her while erecting boundaries necessary for him. That is, until one horrendous event changes the course of his lifeÔÇöand JusticeÔÇÖs.

ÔÇ£He didnÔÇÖt need her shit. DidnÔÇÖt need to feel less when it was obvious she could give herself more.ÔÇØ ~Deke

I loved the two of them individually, which only amplified when they got together. Justice and Deke were perfectÔÇöno unnecessary drama or insecurities that let them to doubt their connection. I definitely enjoyed the slow burn of this story. It was the perfect combination between sweet, entertaining, and heartbreakingly beautiful. And I definitely have a girl crush on JusticeÔÇösheÔÇÖs amazing.

Bounty is an amazing new addition to a beloved series and the perfect ending for it. Deke and Justice find bounty in one another and I throughoutly enjoyed their journey to happiness. ItÔÇÖs with a sad heart I say goodbye to these beloved characters, but IÔÇÖm sure Kristen Ashely will keep surprising us with other marvelous booksÔÇöand I cannot wait! This is a must read for everyone!

~Review by Anja

#1

ÔÇ£Jus.ÔÇØ

DekeÔÇÖs voice carved into the perverse, bitter sick my brother and his mother stirred up in me and I lifted my gaze, twisted my neck and looked to his face.

He was not close.

But he was concerned.

And that concern undid me.

I turned fully to him, dropped my head and fell forward.

He was not near and then he was, right there for me to collide with as everything pressed into me. So much, I couldnÔÇÖt hold it back, and the tears came.

He wrapped his arms around me as he stepped farther into me so he could hold me close.

That was when I started sobbing. My body shaking with it, automatically burrowing into his heat, his solidity, his bulk, all Deke.

His arms tightened.

ÔÇ£I miss him,ÔÇØ I whispered into DekeÔÇÖs chest through a hitch.

The words with that hitch barely sounded before I felt DekeÔÇÖs hand glide up my spine and tangle in my hair.

ÔÇ£Get it out, Jussy,ÔÇØ he murmured, his words stirring the strands at the top of my head so I knew he was bent to me.

Deke.

Fuck me, Deke.

ÔÇ£My brotherÔÇÖs a p-p-piece of shit,ÔÇØ I pushed out through the tears.

DekeÔÇÖs arm around me got tighter and the tips of fingers started stroking the side of my ribs.

Even this did not make me feel better. In fact thisÔÇöall that was Deke enveloping all that was meÔÇömade it better at the same time so much worse.

ÔÇ£HeÔÇÖs contesting theÔÇªthe will,ÔÇØ I shared.

Deke said nothing.

I kept crying.

It came to me slowly that I was pressed hard to him and had my hands clenched into his tee at the back. I felt the damp material against my cheek and knew how many tears had leaked and that Deke took them from me.

I also knew he was being cool, a nice guy, because that was who he was.

But I couldnÔÇÖt let this go on.

So I pulled my shit together, unclenched my hands and smoothed the shirt before I dropped them to his waist and tipped my head back.

ÔÇ£Sorry.ÔÇØ

Lamentably, he took my cue and let me go.

Incredibly, he didnÔÇÖt do this completely.

He put his hands on either side of my neck and bent close so his face was a couple of inches from mine.

ÔÇ£Think, from what youÔÇÖve told me, you get that times get bad. Hope, Jussy, you also get that those times pass. WhateverÔÇÖs happening, this will pass.ÔÇØ

Jussy.

Shit.

I nodded because that was all I could do.

ÔÇ£Sorry, IÔÇªwell, your shirtÔÇÖs all wet,ÔÇØ I said, taking one hand from him to wipe my face.

ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖll dry.ÔÇØ

I nodded again.

His fingers curled around my neck gave me a gentle squeeze.

ÔÇ£You good?ÔÇØ

I was not.

I gave him another nod anyway.

His eyes moved over my face and I knew he knew that nod was an inaudible lie but he didnÔÇÖt

call me on it.

He just said quietly, ÔÇ£Good,ÔÇØ gave me another squeeze and dropped his left hand.

But with his right, he lifted it up and I held my breath because I thought he was going to touch

my face, dry a tear, something.

Instead, he raised it to the top of my head and tousled my hair before he gave me another close look, turned and walked away.

Shit, Deke comforted me then tousled my hair like I was his little sister.

About Kristen Ashley

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorize and she hadn't taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen's Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing's changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she's blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

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